Student Finance for DS with absent father

[samantha001]

I am not sure if this is the right forum but in the absence of one single piece of information on the directgov website, unless I have completely overlooked it, I am trying to find out what impact an absent father's income could have on my son's application. Student Finance have advised me they cannot proceed unless they have his fathers income details. DS has not seen his father since he was 2 and we have no contact details, he has not contributed to household, son's upbringing to date and most unlikely to start funding his uni education so I am not sure why they would need it. Has anyone else been through this who can help?

No advice im afraid but interested in seeing if anyone has the answer!

I'm in Scotland so it may be different. My ex's income was not relevant - I just ut what maintenance I sometimes got and they said they didn't take that into account anyway as noone could rely on it (how true). I got my student loan, a mature student bursary of £1000, an a lone parent bursary of £1000 plus the uni paid most of my childcare for me - and they ahve given me a top up for he summer of £300. Hope that helps - but that was through SAAS the Scottish one. Good luck x

As far as I'm aware, it is the household income, so absent father wouldn't count.

I didnt have to includes DDs Dads finances on the application but did have to include my Dhs.

Ours was definitely done on household income. We are Just about to do the new forms and its still the same.

Hope it helps

You need to include your household income only. No need to put the income of a long time absent parent. However, if you have a partner who is bringing an income into the household, you have to include that.

From my experience with the SLC, they need to have everything in writing. It seems (it is) stupid, but you'll probably find that the 'evidence' of his contribution to your household's income is a signed letter from you. You will probably need to outline the situation - he doesn't live with you, he doesn't make any financial contribution, you don't even have his contact details.

Perhaps proof that he doesn't live with you? They seem to like council tax bills (which if you live on your own would show the single adult discount).

It doesn't help that it seemed to me that everytime you phone that helpline up you get told a different thing.... if you really are having troubles, it always helps to get things in writing. As there's no obviously department to write to, if you think you've provided all the possible proof and are still being wrongly assessed, try [email protected]

Good luck!